MODULE lib_fortran
      !!======================================================================
      !!                       ***  MODULE  lib_fortran  ***
      !! Fortran utilities:  includes some low levels fortran functionality
      IMPLICIT NONE
      PRIVATE

      PUBLIC SIGN

      INTERFACE SIGN
      MODULE PROCEDURE SIGN_1D
      END INTERFACE

      CONTAINS

      FUNCTION SIGN_1D(pa,pb)
      !!-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      !!                  ***  FUNCTION SIGN_SCALAR  ***
      !!
      !! ** Purpose : overwrite f95 behaviour of intrinsinc sign function
      !!-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      REAL(8) :: pa,pb          ! input
      REAL(8) :: SIGN_1D        ! result
      !!-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      IF ( pb >= 0.e0) THEN   ;   SIGN_1D = ABS(pa)
      ELSE                    ;   SIGN_1D =-ABS(pa)
      ENDIF

      END FUNCTION SIGN_1D

      END MODULE lib_fortran